Island Hospital (8 page)

Her companion tightened his hold. “So we both like the quiet places. Good
...
we’ll do something about it.”

Something in his tone caught Sheila’s attention for a moment, and then she decided she was imagining things. They turned away from the highway leading to the bridge with its never-ending stream of cars. A wide path led them toward the forest depths. She had never seen such tremendous trees. Their wide trunks could have held an English country cottage with ease, and the thick bark would have been no thinner than those cottage walls. The trees soared up toward the blue sky that shone through their feathery tops. A few motor roads ran curving through the woods, and Sheila was amused to see that one ran right through the trunk of a massive cedar, leaving inches to spare. She noticed a car drive past them and stop beside the tree.

The First Officer slowed his steps and glanced down at Sheila. “Glad you came?” He gave her a little squeeze.

“You mean to Canada? Of course.” Sheila drew a deep breath, uneasily aware of the nearness of her companion.

He gave a low chuckle. “You funny girl! No, I mean with
me
...
”
He drew her toward the shelter of a clump of shrubbery and pulled her into his arms. “Come on, give me a kiss.”

She was too startled at first to make a move, and taking her stillness for consent, he began to kiss her, holding her so tightly that she couldn’t struggle. She tried to twist out of his grasp, tried to turn her face away from his relentless caresses. “Sheila! Sheila!”

The shout had no meaning to begin with until she became conscious of running footsteps and her name being called again. The First Officer must have heard it too, because he released her so abruptly that she almost fell.

“It looks like your red-headed doctor friend ... I suppose you tipped him off you were coming this way. Well, I’m off. He’s got a nasty look in his eye.”

Sheila stood there trembling. If she had had the strength she would have fled into the depths of the
forest
...
anywhere ... to get away from the sarcastic scolding she felt sure was coming. Then Alan caught her by the shoulders and held her very gently until the tremors ceased.

“Like to tell me what happened?”

Sheila tried to steady her voice. “I was just a little fool, I guess.”

“Cheer up, it happens to the best of us. I have an idea I’ve seen him before. Got it ... he’s on the
Queen of the Isles,
isn’t he? Don’t they teach you in England to beware of sailors? It mightn’t have been quite so nice if I hadn’t happened along.”

Sheila shuddered. “I can’t thank you enough.” She was beginning to recover. “How did you get here anyway?”

He gestured toward the car. Sheila could see that there was a woman sitting in the driver’s seat ... surely those shoulders were familiar
...

“Matron and I flew a patient down. He was pretty
ill
...
it was touch and go whether we’d even get him here. We felt a bit tired after we got him safely to the hospital, so we came out for a breather. She keeps her car here in Vancouver. We were busy sorting out a lot of things and we’d just come to a tricky point when you came into sight. I was all for going on
...
you looked contented enough when we passed you ... but no, Joyce insisted on stopping at the Big Cedar. She didn’t exactly say that you were the reason, but when that guy started his funny stuff she gave me a mighty shove in this direction, so I took the hint.”

Sheila flushed. “You mean she saw it all?”

Alan nodded. “Don’t let it worry you. Women get kissed every day, you know, and they’re not all willing. Come on, we’ll give you a lift back to your cousins’ house.”

Sheila shook her head. “I’m all right now, thanks, all the same. It’s not far to go, and I’d rather not face Matron ... just yet.”

Alan released her reluctantly. “If you insist. I don’t altogether blame you.”

Sheila put a hand up to smooth her ruffled hair and her lips quivered a little. “You
won’t
...
mention this ... to anyone, will you?”

Alan patted her shoulder. “Promise ... and I’m sure Joyce won’t say anything. You’ll be hearing from me.”

Sheila watched him walk back to the car and say something
t
o Matron before he got in. She could see him glancing back lie car drove slowly on. She began to walk rapidly through the trees to where she could see green lawns and crowds of people moving between the flower beds. For once she wanted the reassurance of her fellow creatures. She had been upset by the First Officer’s unexpected advances, and Alan’s rescue of her had been oddly disturbing because it found her at a disadvantage.

She got back to her cousins’ house to find them waiting for her. There was a look on their faces that could be mild disapproval. For a moment she wondered wildly if they had seen her meet the First Officer
...

It was Cousin Annie who spoke first. “A young man
telephoned just before you got back ... a Doctor Greenwood from your hospital, I think he said. He mentioned that he had arranged to call for you at nine o’clock and trusted that would be convenient.” She paused, and Sheila felt herself blushing. She was very grateful that the dim light hid her startled surprise. It was like Alan to take her consent for granted.

Cousin Edith took up the tale. “We were a little surprised, dear, that you hadn’t mentioned such an engagement.”

Sheila felt excitement tingling and was suddenly lighthearted. “I met him when I was out walking. Naturally I didn’t know whether you had arranged something for this
evening
...
”

“Of course you’re free to spend your time as you wish, dear.” Cousin Annie sounded rather stiff, but she tried to smile.

Sheila went upstairs in a flurry of happiness to change before dinner. Already she was forgetting her unpleasant experience. She put aside the frock she had intended to wear, and chose instead a softly draped dress of cornflower blue with daisy chains forming a deep border. She laughed silently to herself as she paused in front of the mirror. She would have to be careful or her cousins would suspect something that didn’t exist. She gave herself a little shake. She was probably being ridiculous. Probably Alan was only making sure that she was all right. No doubt they would be saying hard things to one another before the evening was over.

The cousins’ cooking may have been excellent, but Sheila couldn’t have told anyone what she had eaten. She was thankful that the doorbell rang before she had time to be conscious of waiting for it. She was a little nervous as she introduced Alan to her cousins, and relieved to see them unbend graciously.

He smiled at them warmly as he led Sheila toward the door.
“I’ll
take good care of her.”

He grinned cheekily at Sheila as he handed her into the car. “Rum old ducks, your cousins. Want to bet they’re left over from the Ark?”

Sheila stifled the small prickle of annoyance and laughed at him. “Can’t be
...
don’t you remember all the creatures went in two by two!”

Alan roared with amusement.

He settled himself behind the wheel. “Any preference as to where you want to go? I thought we could drive across the Lions Gate Bridge and up to the lookout on Grouse Mountain. You’ll get an idea of the size of the city and it looks pretty with all the lights. Suit you?”

Sheila smiled at him contentedly. “That would be wonderful.” She hesitated and then plunged. “I didn’t thank you properly for this afternoon.” Her cheeks grew very pink. “I was so surprised when my cousins said you’d phoned.”

Alan looked at her quizzically. “I just wanted to check that you were all right, but I guess I didn’t allow you enough time to make it back, so I left the invitation instead. Hope you don’t mind. Joyce seemed to think you wouldn’t.”

Sheila felt a little chill touch the warmness of her pleasure. “I’m glad, actually. I think an evening with my cousins might have been a little grim.”

“I guess you can thank Joyce. She gave me the address and lent me her car. She didn’t want to go
out
...
said her son was coming to see her.”

“Her son? I didn’t know she had one. I only knew she’d been married,” Sheila said slowly.

Alan nodded. “Yes, it’s a bit odd. She doesn’t seem the type. Strangely enough he’s a
doctor
...
doing research of some sort, I gather. His name isn’t Painter, but I think that’s her maiden name. She’s got some mania about women’s rights or something.
I didn’t bother to listen to it all. I was surprised when she said I could have the car, though.”

“Whatever for?”

Alan chuckled. “I didn’t think she really liked me. But for some reason or other she thinks I’m being a good boy at the moment.” He became serious. “I really did want to show you the sights, honest.”

Sheila was in no mood to quibble. She could even forgive Joyce for having a share in organizing it. She gave herself up to the delight of being driven across the Lions Gate Bridge and up the winding road to Grouse Mountain. There was something exciting in being one of the shining links in the chain of cars that seemed to swing so high above the dark waters. She knew sheer pleasure as Alan swung the car expertly around the curves and she could see the glittering city unroll below them like a star-spangled carpet while the north arm lay like a dark sword slashing across the shining expanse that made up the city of Vancouver. She was grateful for Alan’s silence so that she could absorb the beauty of the scene below her.

She came back to reality as he brought the car to a standstill at one end of the crescent curve, which formed the lookout. She was half aware of the other cars parked near them, and of the brightly lit chalet behind them, which seemed so out of place with its noisy crowd of merrymakers, in spite of its rustic structure that tried to blend with the forests beyond.

Alan’s voice came into her thoughts with no jar of intrusion. “You like it, don’t you?”

“It’s lovely.” It seemed so inadequate, but something of what she was feeling crept into her voice.

It seemed to satisfy Alan and he sat beside her in apparent content. After a while he stirred and turned toward her. “Glad you came?”

Sheila gestured toward the city lights. “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything!”

He smiled at her eagerness. “Sheila, I like it when you get enthusiastic. It warms up that English coolness of yours!”

Sheila laughed softly. “It’s really shyness. Didn’t you know?”

Alan’s arm rested lightly on the back of the seat. He had made no move, but she suddenly became very much aware of
him
...
of the vitality that made him the man he was.

His voice was very quiet when he spoke again. “You shouldn’t say things like that, Sheila. You could be giving me ideas.” His hand went out and gently he tilted her chin so that he could look into her face. “Sheila, would you
...?”

She felt herself go rigid and something inside her instinctively recoiled. Not Alan
too
...

“Sorry ... my mistake
...
” There was a restrained savageness in his voice that hurt Sheila by the very fact that he had troubled to control it.

She shivered a little. He hadn’t deserved her rebuff. “Getting cold, eh? It’s the wind from the snowfields that does it. We’d better get you back to those precious cousins of yours.” They drove back in silence.

Alan stopped the car in front of the house. “Pity you have to c
o
me back by steamer. I’m getting a lift back in the morning, but then you’d be wasting your ticket and missing part of your weekend.” He patted her shoulder. “
’Bye, Sheila. Have fun.” Sheila knew a moment’s reluctance as they parted on the doorstep. He could be so nice when he wanted to be ... not the impatient, intolerant man that he was when provoked.

“Good night
,
Alan. I enjoyed it very much and ... I’m
sorry
...
”

For a second she thought she had said too much. Alan smiled at her. “Be seeing you. Goodbye.”

The rest of the weekend seemed strangely flat, and she found herself unexpectedly missing Alan as her cousins drove her to many places of interest. It would have been so different if she had been seeing the sights with Alan.

She was almost glad when she stepped aboard the steamer and was thankful to discover that it wasn’t the
Queen of the Isles.
At least she was going to be spared the embarrassment of meeting the First Officer.

Sheila found her heart beating faster with excitement as she went through the now familiar procedure of landing at Mary Harbor. Jim was there with the hospital launch to meet her.

He picked up her case. “This all you got, Miss Griffiths? No boxes of pretty dresses and knicknacks, eh?”

Sheila laughed. “Give me time, Jim. I haven’t been here long enough to need new clothes.”

Jim gave a sidelong glance at her costume. “Guess you’re all right as you are for a bit.” He looked back at the gangplank. “You haven’t seen the Matron messing about, have you?”

Sheila was puzzled. “You mean on the steamer? Why? Did she come out with you?”

“Course not! She went cavorting off down to Vancouver in one of those fancy airplanes with Doctor Greenwood. Never a word to me when to meet her and
all
...
Suppose she’ll come back when she’s ready. Can’t be doing with folks that mess you about ... doesn’t leave a chap a chance to get on with his own work at all.”

Sheila followed him meekly to the
Queen Mary.
She wondered secretly if she were included in the folks who had messed him about. Why hadn’t Matron come back? Perhaps she wanted longer with her son. Sheila suddenly remembered that morning when Matron had held Jenny’s baby. She had been right
...
those motherly arms had cradled her own baby, not just other people’s. For a moment she was tempted to ask Jim if Alan was back. Better not. Jim in his present mood might not take it well.

Sheila had a feeling as soon as she stepped inside the door that all was not well. It wasn’t just Mary’s relief when she saw her.

“Glad to see you back, Miss Griffiths.” The girl’s black eyes were shining. “Hospital doesn’t seem the same place without you. What with the doctor and Miss Boothby not speaking, and the Matron not here and all, it’s sixes and sevens.”

Sheila began to wonder what she had come back to. First Jim, and now Mary, were more talkative than she had ever known them. She unpacked and changed into her uniform. With Matron away as well, Clare wouldn’t have had much time off.

Clare greeted Sheila coolly. “So you’re back, eh? I was beginning to wonder if I was going to be stuck in this neck of the woods all by myself.”